Blogging: A Tutorial, Vol. 11

I have a love/hate relationships with linkups.

On one hand, they help build up the blog community. They helped me get started. And they introduced me to a bunch of great people.

On the other hand, they can stifle creativity. I've seen bloggers get stuck in a never-ending cycle of linkups, which makes a blog boring to read. I've unfollowed many people because they were only doing linkups.

I've participated in a few here and there. But recently, I've stopped regularly participating in them for one reason or another. Mostly due to lack of quality or participation. As I was thinking about my experience (and frustrations) with linkups, I came up with a few guidelines:

1) Be inspired by the linkup topic. Don't force a connection.

Kelly participates in a weekly yarn along link-up. I have no interest in yarn, but she's found a place to pursue and share her passion for knitting/crocheting. Appropriate for her. Inappropriate for me.

2) Don't only post linkups on your blog.

I blog because I like to force myself to think outside of the box and try new things. I try to discover like-minded individuals online. If I come across a blog that is only linkups, I very rarely give it much notice. Which may sound harsh: but I can't read everything in the world, and limits have to be set.

3) Don't spam linkups with irrelevant content.

I absolutely hate clicking on link-ups and being taken to a post that has absolutely nothing to do with the topic. Or, even worse, if the same blog posted multiple links on the linkup. This comes down to respecting the hosts and all the participants. Leanne & Sami do a great job of monitoring their linkup. But that takes hard work, and not every host will have time to do that!

4) Actually visit and comment on others' posts who linked up.

A linkup is meant to be social. I've had to stop participating in linkups because I felt I was the only one actually visiting others' blogs. Visiting some of the posts enhances the experience for you and every other participant. It's the reason why linkups exist. So go be social!! My rule of thumb is to visit at least 10 posts from any linkup I participate in. Do I do it every time? No. But I try to make an effort. 

5) Be vary cautious before starting your own linkup. 

Very few linkups take off. In my first year of blogging, I decided to make up my own linkup. I was so excited!! And then, 1 person linkup with me. I blew it off, figured that was a fluke. I think I made it through about 5 weeks before I realized that my linkup just wasn't right. So I stopped, and instead tried to find another place to focus my efforts.

Now this isn't to say all linkups fail. I remember when Oh! How Pinteresting started... I remember when it was only 20 or so linking up. And now it's a huge linkup!  So just make sure to think it through, and maybe even team up with somebody.

So I'm curious: What are your thoughts on linkups? Am I off the mark, or do you agree?

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I started Blogging: A Turorial as a way to celebrate my blog's second birthday. If there's ever a topic you want covered - or if you want to contribute - let me know! I'd love to talk to you ♥

To see all posts in this series, check out the blogging tutorial page.